Casket handling apparatus



Aug. 29, 1950 A. O- SPRIGGS ETAL CASKET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet l 1950 A. o. SPRIGGS ETAL 2,520,515

CASKET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. I5

mm 754%05 o QBWJaEL Hex-M9 441 Aug. 29, 1950 A. o. SPRIGGS ETAL CASKET HANDLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 22, 1944 Aug. 29, 1950 A. OASPRIGGS ET AL 2,520,515

CASKET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 29, 1950 U NITED' STATES PATENT oer ice:

GASKET HANDLING APPARATUS- Aithhr .0. Spriggs and Darrell E. ErinerySpringe field, Ohio, assignors to The-fihampionfiom pany; Springfield, Ohio; acorporation-of Ohio 1 Application AngustZZ, 1944; Serial No; 550,622.;

16 Claims. 1.

This invention relates. to .casket. placers- It. istheprincipal. objector the invention to provide. a. casket. placer which. is relatively light in. weight, simple and. economicalin. construction and; capable .of. beingireadily. assembled: and dies assembled.f.and adiustedtoa. desiredsiza. and.

whichereceives. the casket. and ...moves.. the same. forward. to the .properloweringposition where the.

casket then. .transfe'rredflsmoothly.. and quietly to thelowering device.

It is a further object to provide such a device whichautomatically transfers -.thecasket to. the lowering-device atotheflproper. position...t arson. andthen. quietlvremoves itself. from beneath the. casket. so that it is. out..of..the,.path.. of.lthe .same as it .islowered while remaining in. fully accessible positionion subsequent removal Itis a.further..object to provide a. casket placer having fluidactuatedbrakemeans for assuring. smoothandouiet operationinthe handling and. movement of the casket.

Itis 4 a further. object to provide. casket hane. dling. apparatus incorporatingclosure means for. the grave opening which normallvmaintain. the opening ,closed .but. provide. for the .opening.thereof as the casketislowered...

Other obj ects. and. advantages will. be apparent. from. the following.description, the accompany- 111g, drawing and. theappended. claims.

In. the drawing,

Fig. Lisa-broken planviewvshowingl acasket placer constructedin accordance with .thepresent. invention. in position upon: a, lowering. device Fig. 2 is aside elevation ofllthe.sameg Fig-:3 .isa vertical secticnalviewonian enlarged scalevthrough the endfitting andyth telescoping traokmerober onctheilinefletcofl Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view 011.:thesame scaleaas Fig. 3 lllthrough... the end: frame member showing the telesooping relation and. the. roller for-receiving the casket on linedl or Fig. 1

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of 'the hydraulic brake elements with. the coverremoved;

Fig. dis a vertical sectional view on the line B -6 of Fig; 5

Fig, 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line l -l of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a vertical..sectiona1view on. the line 3-.-8 of Fig.5;

Fig. 9 is a broken. end .elevationallviewflshowing the carriage in itsnormal .orroperative. position upon thetrack;

Fig. 10 is. a. plan view-similar to Fi 9,.with certain parts .beingbroken. away; h

Fig. 11 is aside elevational View of the carriagein position upon the'track;

Fig- 12 .is a detail 'view ofthe hinge-bracket used with the carriage;

Fig. 13 is a. perspective view of the carriage in its .normal or casket supporting position with the' casket being indicated indash lines thereon;

Fig..l.4='is a. view in perspective of thecarriage in its release position;

Figy15is a View through the hingeineans'for supporting the; closure and on the line !5 'l5' of Fig. 1;

Fig. 16is a sectional view through" the .means ior'supporting-the closure bymeans of the tapes, and" on the line i ii"l 6 ofFiggl;

Fig 17 is a somewhatschematic view showing the relationship of the several" parts at .the time when the carriage-begins its'movementfromits normal to' its release position, to transfer the casket from the carriage totne tapes and Fig. 18 is a detailed view showingthe spring detent as used'on the .hydraulic'brake atthereceiving endof the device.-

In the handling of casketaitis common practies to provide a lowering device on which the casket may be placed forloweri-ng into the grave. However it is usually found undesirable, and may even prove dangerous to requirethat the-casket be manually carried" along the sides of the grave;- in orderto position itinproper location upon the lowering device: For this reasonitis desired to make useof a casketplacer which receivesthe casket at one .end .of the grave and which then' transports the casketforwardly into its proper position over the lowering device'withoutrequir in manual lifting of the advancing end'of the casket:

ItyiS highly important that the casket placer be portable and capable ofready assembly and disassembly; and that it be'adjustable as to size as required for difierent size graves and to accommodate different size caskets. l't is desir able that-the-d-evice itself function smoothly and quietly throughout so that it does notgive the appearance or soundof a piece of mechanism while it is in the course of operation; It-is also desirable that the casket placer be of suchcon struction that it is readily withdrawn or removed from-beneath the. casket when. the latter i in proper position above the lowering device, thereby.providingfortransferringthe casket from the placeronto-the lowering device. Thisoperation should alsoloeaccornplished smoothly and quietly, andpreferably withouturequiring manual lifting or, other attention.

In accordance with the present invention these desirable characteristics are accomplished in a highly satisfactory way. The device is portable in a disassembled and compact form and may be readily assembled to any desired size, and providing for receiving the casket thereon without shock or noise. With the one end of the casket in position upon the placer, and the casket being manually supported at its other end, it is moved forward over the grave without requiring any manual support at the sides of the grave. When the casket reaches a predetermined position at which it is desired to transfer the same to the lowering device, such operation takes place automatically, so that assurance is provided that in all cases the casket will be positioned accurately and in the desired position, without the necessity of manual attention.

Further, this transferring operation takes place smoothly and quietly, the casket placer automatically withdrawing its support and removing itself not only from supporting relation with the casket, but to a clearance position so that it will be out or" the path of the casket as it is lowered. In addition, the casket placer itself remains in its original position on top of the lowering device, such that it is easily accessible, and can be readily removed after the casket is lowered.

In addition, in accordance with the present invention, closure means may be provided if desired for closing the grave opening, so that as the casket is moved into place and before it is lowered, the entire grave opening is substantially closed. The closure means is related in its movement to the tapes which are incorporated as part of the lowering device, and through such relationship the closure means is moved to open position gradually as the casket is lowered, so that an effective closure of the grave opening is maintained at all times.

Referring to the drawings which disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lowering device is indicated generally in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, comprising corner posts it! which are connected by longitudinally extending tubular side members l2. The tubular members are suitably fitted to the corner posts, and have parts which are rotatable in the usual manner for receiving a rolled up pair of tapes i l and E5 in suitably spaced locations thereon. is completed by tubular end members it, all such tubular members being made of telescoping construction to provide for the adjustment of the size of the lowering device as to both length and width.

The casket placer is shown as composed of a frame separable from and applicable to the assembled lowering device. It comprises a pair of corner fitting members and 2E at the receiving end, and another pair of such members 22 and 2?; at the release end. Such members have corner portions which fit upon and against the corner posts ii] of the lowering device in order to guide and support the casket placer in position thereon. In addition the several corner fittings are provided with downwardly open cylindricalshaped brackets which are adapted to be received over the tubular part of the lowering device, to provide for proper support of the frame thereon.

The longitud nally extending parts of the corner fittings and 2! have a substantially T- shaped slot formed therein as indicated at it in Fig. 3. These slots provide for adjustably receiving therein a pair of longitudinally extend- The frame a ing track members 32 and 33 which carry brackets at spaced points similar in construction and function to brackets 2?. Corner fittings 22 and 23 have similarly arranged slots, although these slots are substantially L-shaped inasmuch as that corresponds with the cross section of the track members adjacent these fittings at the release end.

Fittings 28 and Bi also have a slot 35 formed in their transversely extending parts, as shown in Fig. l of the drawing, providing for adjustably receiving therein an end frame member 3'! which may be made of angular material substantially L-shaped in cross section. Similarly fittings 2'2 and 23 are provided with an L-shaped slot for adjustably receiving the end frame member 33 at the release end of the device. Preferably all of such members are made of relatively light weight material in order to make them readily portable, and adjustable. From the above description it will be understood that the frame so provided is adapted to be positioned in supporting relation upon and substantially directly over the lowering device itself, and provides for ready adjustment as to both length and width through the telescoping relation of the several parts as described. Since the track and the entire frame structure of the placer is located above and supported throughout upon the lowering device, an adequate and firm support is thus provided.

ihe longitudinal track members 32 and 33 are each formed with an outer flange 4B which is continuous over the length of the track, and with a central vertically extending web 42 which is also preferably continuous. Inwardly, the tracks are formed with an inner flange M which is level with fiange over the major portion of the length of the track, but which is formed with a downwardiy curved section 5, at a definite point along the length of the track and toward the release end. The remainder of the inner flange 44 is relieved, although the outer flange so continues up to the release end.

At the receiving end of the device, which is represented at the right-hand end of the device as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the end fittings 20 and ii on the parts thereof which project toward each other are formed with forwardly extending arms 5i? and 55 which are drilled to provide a support for rollers 53, such rollers being supported with their upper surfaces standing slightly above the level of the fitting itself. Such rollers thus form supports for the casket, indicated in dotted lines at '55, as it is moved into position at the receiving end of the device to preent the same from riding on the fixed parts of the frame.

Means are likewise preferably provided for avoiding any shock or noise as the casket is placed in position, such means comprising a fluid actuated brake element. As shown, this element includes a central tongue 86] having a base portion iii which normally projects substantially horizontally and is preferably provided at its free end with a spring member 52 which normally engages over a part of the movable carriage to be hereinafter described, in order to prevent premature movement of the carriage away from the casket receiving position. The brake element serves to receive the rear end of the casket after it has left the supporting rollers and thereupon gradually lowers and releases the casket into its proper position on the tapes of the lowering device, while avoiding any undesired shock condition.

zwe ere The hydraulic unit" is: preferably made-in. two: duplicate partsg which are located in theihousings' 84 at either side: of the base i 6%! I of." the tongu thereto.

braking action:

One of such units: is illustrated. in Figs: 5.: through: 8;andwi1l now b'e described? The Works-- ing shaft 65 extendsthroughza: bearingrbushin'gt 81 mounted in the wall of: theh'ousing'fif into a fluid chamber: 8H which is. formed: therein. A.

packing. gland 69: prevents escape of" fluid along the shaft, and the fi'uid chamber is closed: by: a

cover plate 1 B;

Withinthe chamber; a; crank: arm 12 .is ias-' tenedw' to, the endllof l shaft 55, the' cranki engaging" a connecting. rod: 13 which. fitsn. over a' pin T s secured in piston. 55';

lifting of. the tongue to its operative position substantially without. load. check iseats upon an opposite movement of the piston; thereby subjectingr'the fiuid beneath the piston to compression;

A. syn-pass; passage: 86; the bottom end of which is closed by a. rivet 31? is. provided to establish communication .from' the' spacebel'ow the piston to the fluidchamberthereabove, and the size of such passage-11s regulatedby a throttiing valve 82. having anadjusting head. 33 which is accessible upon the outside of housing 3. It will thus= be clear that" upon theadjustment of screw 83,

thedesired degree: of resistance to' the downward movement of thecasket may be regulated and! predetermined, to, permit the lowering of the. tongue and: oi the caslc'et at the desired ratez The; carriage itself is mounted i for longitudinal travel 1 upon the track members above describedi The carriage comprises at each side a housing 90 which is provided: with spacedinteriordepending flanges, ll

ing the rollers" 93: so that there are rollersam jacent both the forward and the rearward ends of the carriage. As shown in'F-igs; 9' andl9} theserollers 93? are mounted in such position thatrtheyengage :the' track portioni iii outwardly of the central flange- 325. so'thatthey provi'de' for continuous supporter l the housings and hence of the, main frame ofthe: carriage throughout the entire travel thereof. bumpers 95 are fixediin-the carriageadjacentthe forward and rearward portionstthereoii andare adapted. toengage on the inner vertical. faces of the: webs 42: to thereby provide elateral stability for the carriage during its. travel.

Onthe-ginnerside'of eachcarriage, and :preferablyg formed integrally-withtthehousings 98'; there are provided" socketrnemb'ers .lfifirwhichi are ap ertured to receive" therein the upper tubes w l 82 and lower tubes 163;. such tubes beinglsecuredinx place thereinbygmeansof pins' use. As shown,

the'tWo tubes are preferably"notidirectlyiabove each other, the upper: tube lllfiiibeing. located" forwardly somewhat with respeotto'tube I04 thereon;

The piston is ported as shown: at: 75-, and a ball check it isprovid'ed in. the passage topermit upward? movement= oi the piston substantially Without brakingaction. This upwardimovement: corresponds to anrupwardi lift ing movementtofi the tong-1.19.60, providing'for'the Howeverthe ball Shafts are mounted adjacent oppo site ends offthe housingsand {)lE'OVid-"fOI- mou-nt-- Vertical guide rollers or ill ontheupper and -lower sets'of'tulies'; being suit-- abl'y spaced from each: other substantiallyas shown such hinge members have 'dependihgamn portions l l Zfiwithin which thereiis rotatablg; received' a cooperating hinge arm F23, such arm having a broad and flat face [F5 extending for-- wardly therefrom, and providing a seat upon which the casket may-rest.

The hinge arms H3 at their forward end are" received over "the" tubes I29,- which are alsorad justable relative to' each other'through the provi sion of aninncrtelscoping rod' I21. The hinge arms [15* are suitably secured to the respective tube Tubes'. 12!! extend respectively towardithe opposite housings' 9|), and; adjacenttheir ends are" provided'with sockets I24 to which there is fixed.

a bracket I25 that is adapted to support a. roller 1 i261 As wilLbe clear from the drawing the inner side wall... of? the housings. 9'!) is. notched outas shown. at!!! to provide a recess for the receptionof'brackets i25;.the.rol1er'l25 thus beingadapte'd totravelalong the inner. flange Moi the track). In. this position it willalso -be clear from the drawingth'at' rollers I25. are supported atth'e same levelas rollers 93; so thatlthe forwardly projecting part of theplacer, comprising the tubes I29 andthebracket arms ,.I i5; stands in normal.

3 or. casket receiving position which is substantially.

horizontal. These parts'are however notin fixed relation Withrespect to the housings Sill, and. it. will thus be apparent that upon the forward travel ofthexcarriage'tol the position where the inner flangesof'the'track are relieved, as shown at t5, rollers lZB wilLride downsuch inclined surfaces, andt'hus provide for the lowering ofthi portion' of. the: carriage belowits horizontal position. Further when'therollers ride off the end. of the track: portions. 45. the forward portion ofthe carriage will be allowed't'o move down- Wardly, through the action of the hinge means HZj to a position where such portion is substantiaiiy vertical, andlhence out of the path of lowering movement'ofithe. casket; However the carriage'itself including the rollers '93ahdfthe housingsJQlloccupythe same level and thusdo not'permit'anypart of the carriage to fall into the grave; the:entir'e carriage thus remains only accessible, so that; it can" be readily removed 'atthe level at which it is operated, when desired.

It is alsodesired to brake and check the actionof transferring the leading end of the casket from the carriage to thelowering device, andto. avoid any, objectionable. shock. or noisein the course of such. operation;- For this purpose a secondtongue ltillispositioned in the cross frame member 38 at the release" end. of "the machine, hydrauliobrake or check elements it! and i32beingprovidedj the construction of whicli is essentially the. same. as that of the units. previously. described". and associated with. tongue to"; The tongueiSiVhowever ispreierably formed with an offset so that instead ofnormally resting. on top. of the cross bar l2t,flit. is positioned with its uppensurface:levelflvith th'e'lower side of the bar'as shown in Fig. 17'.

Fig. 1'? shows'therelative position of the sev eral parts at the time whenthe "transferring actiomtakes" placer Thus 'as 'shown'," the carriage with the casket in position thereon is moving toward the release end or to the left as illustrated in that view, the rollers 93 being supported on the outer flange track ll], and roller I25 being supported upon the inner flange track 45. The base of the casket is supported on the top of tube Hill by webs M5 and hence is at the level indicated by the line E32. The tongue 53% is shown, and it will be seen that the upper surface of the tongue in its normal position prior to the movement of the carriage thereover is at about the level of the top of the inner track flange M.

In operation, the carriage is normally prevented from moving away from its casket receiving position by the light engagement of spring detent 52 with the cross bar lid of the carriage. With the forward end of the casket resting on the carriage, and as the latter is moved forward on its track, the cross bar l2i pulls out from beneath the spring detent, allowing the carriage to travel freely across the grave opening, the rear end of the casket being supported on rollers 52, 53.

As the carriage moves to the left the two opposite wheels lit travel downwardly over the curved track portion 25, thereby gradually lowering the tubular member 5243, the lower side of which thereupon engages the top portion of tongue 536. This effectively checks any sudden dropping movement of the pivoted part of the carriage, and assures that the forward end of the casket will be lowered gradually until it been transferred to the tape M. As this occurs, the forward movement of the casket is stopped, the casket thus being positioned quite accurately and without requiring any unnecessary elongation of the grave beyond a very limited clearance at either end, the casket in its final position on the tapes having just sufiicient clearance to pass between the respective housings cc and H32.

Meanwhile, the pivoted part of the carriage, under the action of gravity, bears against tongue [38, to apply a gradual load to the hydraulic unit, which slowly and quietly permits such carriage part to move from the position illustrated in Fig. 1 3 to that illustrated in Fig. l l. At t is time the carriage occupies a position immediately adja cent the release end of the placer frame, with the pivoted part hanging substantially vertically, and hence out of the path of downward movement of the casket. Similarly the rear end of the casket has at this time passed off of rollers 52, E3, and is thus supported on tongue 59 which moves gradually downward to thus lower that end of the casket also smoothly and quietly upon tape l5.

It may also be desirable to provide a closure means for closing the grave opening prior to the time when the casket is lowered. This is conveniently accomplished in the device of the present invention through the provision of closure means which may be supported by the track members 32. For this purpose, a pair of doors Edi? and lll are provided which are of suitable width to extend from each side of the frame approximately to the center thereof, leaving some clearance to provide for adjustment in width, and also to permit the downward movement of the tongue ltt therebetween.

Each door is supported by a pair of spaced hinge members M3 including a plate M l fastened to the lower side of the track members in any suitable manner, and a cooperating hinge member Hi5 riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the lower side of the closure itself. The two members are detachably secured together by means of withdrawable hinge pin Hi6 so that the doors can be assembled in position following the proper assembly of the track and frame members, by the simple insertion of the hinge pins in the proper position. From the arrangement as shown in Fig. 15, it will be understood that the hinges provide for the support of the closure at a level slightly below that of the track members, leaving a space through which the tapes M and 15 can extend, the tapes thus being located on the upper side of the two closure members.

In order to provide for the support of the closure members in their horizontal closing position, a bracket l 58 of substantially Z shape is provided, one arm thereof being fixed to the door Hill which is notched out as shown at lid to receive the bracket, The other arm of the bracket eXtends above the level of the door and has an open end l52, under which the tapes Hi and 55 can be passed into engaging relation. From this arrangement, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, it will be clear that upon the tightening of the tapes of the lowering device, the tapes will cause the lifting of the brackets 55%, to in turn cause the raising of the two closure members, thereby providing for the retention of such members in substantially horizontal relation prior to the movement of the casket into place. During the time that the casket is moved across the grave and into position on the lowering device, the grave opening remains substantially closed. However as the casket is finally lowered into the grave, its base engages the upper surface of the tapes, and through them effects the depression of the doors which open downwardly, to receive the casket, while remaining hingedl connected to the sides of the tracks.

Following the lowering of the casket, it is a relatively simple matter to withdraw the hinge pins ME, whereupon the doors can be withdrawn, preparatory to the disassembly and removal of the entire mechanism. It will also be clear that the presence of the doors does not interfere with the normal practice of slipping the tapes out from beneath the ends of the fully lowered casket, the brackets i so having their open sides extending outwardly away from each other to facilitate such removal of the tapes. If desired the entire track assembly including the doors may be removed as a unit without the preliminary separation of the doors.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which n is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A. casket placer of the character described comprising track members, a carriage movable upon said track member said carriage having V a frame and an additional part movable relative wframe and .an additional par-t movable relative to said frame from ,a normal casket supporting position to a releaseiposition allowin the lower- ;ing .of .the casket, means for maintaining said additional carriage part :in its said normal position over a portionof ,the travel of said carriage upon said track members, ,and means providing -for.the movementpf said carriage parts to said .release .position ,at,;ano ther. portion of the travel it of said carriage.

3. A casket placer of the character described comprising track members, ,a carriage traveling upon said track members, said carriagebeing movable relative to said track memberswfrom a normal casket supporting position to a ,release .position ,allowing the lowering of said casket, means for maintainingsaidcarriage in its said normal position overa portion of its travel upon said track members, means providing for the movement of said carriage :to its said release position ,at another portion of its travel, and .meansfor controllingthe movement of saidcarriage ,to its said release position to cause such movement .to take place smoothly andquietly.

4. A casket placer adapted to ,be used in conjunction with a lowering device comprising track members. supported, upon said lowering device, a

carriage traveling upon said track members, a

,portionof said carriage extending ina generally horizontalgdirectionand adapted to receive one endof acasket thereon, means for maintaining said portion in said substantially horizontally extending position iovergthe major part of the traveler" the carriage, and means operable at a predeterminedipoint,in ;the travel of said carriage providing for the movement of said portion to a substantially vertical position to release the same from said casket.

.adjustably related thereto, means operable over .a partof the .traveloisaid carriage, for maintaining said adjustable .part in a normal position rforminga casket support, and means providing for the movement of said adjustable part to a release position to release said casket onto the lowering device in another part of the travel'of said .17, carriage.

6. A casket placer adapted to be used in conjunction with a lowering device comprising track members supported above said lowering device, a carriage traveling on said track members, said carriage having a frame and an additional part pivotally related thereto, means operable over a part of the travel of said carriage, for maintaining said pivotal part in a normal position forming a casket support, and means operable at a predetermined point in the path of travel of said carriage providing for the movement of said pivotal art to a release position to release said casket onto the lowering device.

7. A casket placer adapted to be used in conjunction with a lowering device comprising track members supported above said lowering device, a carriage traveling on said track members, said carriage having a frame and an additional part adjustably related thereto, means for maintaining the support of said frame throughout the travel of said carriage over said track members, and means providing for the support of said adjustable part over only a part of said path of travel to provide for release thereof at a predel termined pointin said path of travel to effect the transfer of said casket to said lowering device.

.8. A casket placer adapted to be used in ,con- Junction with ,a lowering device comprising track members supported above said lowering device, a

carriage traveling on said track members, said carriage having alirame and a; part movable relative thereto, outersupportingmeans eugagingsaid t ac membe s lia ste w frame e, inner sai throughout the movement of saidcarsupporting means separatelyengaging said track .rr embersinwardlyof said outer supporting means igor supporting said novable irarne part in a nor- .mal casket receiving position, a portion of said track members in line with said inner supporting means being emoved to allow said inner supporti ng meansto leave the track with accompanying ,moveinent oi said movable frame part to a posi- 1 tion .where said casket is released and transierred, to said lowering device.

9. A casket placer adapted to be used in conjunction with a lowering device comprising track members supported above said lowering device, .s d track nembers including sinner and outer i acks, a carriage includinga frame and a part .movable relative thereto and adapted normal position to receive a casket thereon, supporting means engaging said outer track ior continuously supporting saidfrarne throughout the movement part to a position where saidcasket released while said frame, remains supported ongsaid outer "track portion.

10. ,A casket placer adapted to be used in conjunction witha lowering device comprising track "means, a carriage mounted on said track means iontravel thereover, said carriage being movable -from a normal casket supporting position to a release position out of the path of lowering move- ,ment of said casket, means for retaining said .carriage insaid normal position overthe major partof it s travel on said track means and prorviding formovement thereof to said release position at apredeterminedpoint insaid travel, and

fluid actuatedmeans for checking the movement of said carriage to itssaidrelease position and causing such movement to take place gradually and uietly.

11.' A casket placer adapted to be received over a lowering device comprising end fittings, track members extending longitudinall along said lowering device, means for supporting said track members at spaced points from said lowering device, end frame members, said end frame members and said track members having telescoping relation with said end fittings providing for adjustment of size, a carriage having telescoping portions adjustable as to width to correspond with the spacing of said track members, means for supporting said carriage for travel upon said track members, and fluid actuated means supported upon one of said end frame members for controlling the placing of a casket upon said carriage to provide for the gradual and quiet positioning thereof, said one end frame member having telescoping relation with both of its supporting end fittings providing for maintaining said fluid aotuated means in predetemiined desired position throughout said size adjustments.

12. In casket handling apparatus, a. lowering device having tapes extending transversely therea of for receiving and lowering a casket, a closure member, hinge means at one side of said closure member for pivotally supporting the same for movement from an upper closing position beneath said casket to a lowered position providing for the passage of the casket therethrough, and a bracket including a pair of arms for retaining said closure member in said upper position, one of said bracket arms being secured to said closure member, the other said bracket arm extending in spaced parallel relation with said closure member substantially transversely of said tapes, said last named bracket arm having an open end adapted for engagement with one of said tapes to support said closure member from said tape providing for the opening of said closure member upon the lowering of said casket on said tapes and providing also for ready disengagement from said tape by transverse movement of said tape after completion of the lowering of said casket.

13. Casket handling apparatus of the character described for use with a lowering device comprising a frame forming longitudinally extending tracks, a casket receiving carriage mounted for free traveling movement upon said frame from a casket receiving position to a casket release position, and means supported adjacent one end of said frame and yieldably engaging said carriage for normally retaining said carriage in its said casket receiving position and adapted to yield under pressure to provide for movement of said carriage and said casket toward said release position.

14. A casket placer adapted to be received over a lowering device comprising corner fittings supported upon said lowering device and each including parts extending longitudinally and laterally at substantially a, right angle to each other, unitary track members extending longitudinally along opposite sides of said device adapted to receive a movable carriage thereon, said track members being supported at each end by said longitudinally extending parts of said corner fittings and each of said track members having telescoping relation at one end with said ngitudinally extending part of the adjacent said corner fitting for adjustment as to size providing a continuous track surface between said corner fittings for supporting said carriage in all positions of adjustment, and end members having telescoping relation with said laterally ex- 12 tending parts of said cornerflttings for adjustment of said casket placer as to lateral size.

15. In casket handling apparatus, a lowering device having tapes for receiving and lowering a casket, supporting means extending longitudinally along the sides of said lowering device, a pair of closure members, hingemeans at a side of each said closure member for pivotally supporting the same upon said supporting means for movement from an upper closing position beneath said casket to a lowered position providing for the passage of the casket therethrough, said hinge means including withdrawable hinge pins providing for easy assembly and removal of said closure members, and means spaced from said hinge means for connecting said closure members with said tapes to support said closure members in said closing position until the downward movement of said casket.

16. A casket placer adapted to be received over a lowering device and comprising a frame including longitudinally extending track members, a carriage movably mounted on said track members, releasable means on said carriage for receiving and supporting a casket while being moved to a release position on said frame, and fluid actuated means supported at one end of said frame and extending beneath said casket in said release position of said carriage for controlling the transfer of said casket from said carriage to said lowering device to provide for the gradual and quiet positioning thereof in a predetermined position on said lowering device.

ARTHUR O. SPRIGGS. DARRELL E. BRINER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,693,062 Stark Nov. 27, 1928 1,886,437 Wartman Nov. 8, 1932 2,201,057 Smetana May 14, 1940 2,205,057 Brady June 18, 1940 2,218,878 Frill et a1. Oct. 22, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 109,232 Austria Apr. 10, 1928 

